When you hear the word love, what comes to mind?

Is it a warm feeling toward someone you admire? A flutter in your stomach at the sound of a person’s name? Is it romantic words exchanged to gain affection, or giving gifts to receive a desired response?

Those are expressions of love, but they are not the full picture.

So what is love really?

God’s Love Toward Us

John 3:16 KJV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This verse is beloved because it reveals the depth of God’s heart. He gave His only. He offered love in its purest form. He made the first move toward humanity and believed the cost was worth it.

1 John 4:10 says,

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Scripture consistently shows us that real love supplies and real love sacrifices.

It is never portrayed as self centered or self serving.

Think about these examples.

Esther risked her life to save her people from destruction.

Joseph rescued the very brothers who betrayed him.

Abraham loved God so deeply that he was willing to offer the son he waited nearly a lifetime for.

What is the recurring theme in all of this?

Love meets a need. It gives. It supplies. It responds with action, not only emotion. Words are beautiful, but true love manifests through sacrifice and service.

How Do We Love God and People

Matthew 22:37 to 40

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Jesus teaches that love and obedience go hand in hand. When we love God deeply, obedience becomes a natural expression of that love. And when we love God, we love people because His heart becomes our heart.

So What is True Love

Love is a supplier. Love is a source. We see this in the way God supplied our greatest need by sending His Son. In the same way, we express love by meeting the needs of others.

1 John 3:17

But whosoever has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need and refuses compassion, how does the love of God abide in him

When we actively meet the needs of those around us, whether spiritual or natural, we are displaying the true love of God.

But Paul gives us a powerful warning in 1 Corinthians 13. A person can give generously, sacrifice greatly, and endure hardship for others, and still not possess real love.

So how do we know when our love is authentic instead of superficial

Motives reveal everything. God cares as much about our why as He does about our what.

The Pharisees gave to the poor, paid tithes, fasted often, and prayed publicly, but their hearts were centered on recognition and reward. Their deeds were good, but their motives were empty.

True love is revealed by the absence of hidden agendas.

True love says, No strings attached.

Superficial love always expects something in return.

As believers, we follow the standard God set when He gave His only Son. He gave to satisfy the debt of sin. He gave to restore us. He gave to offer us eternal peace and relationship with Him. His love compels us to respond with devotion, obedience, and compassion for others.

When we truly love God, loving our neighbor becomes the natural overflow.